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The last time Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was at Candlestick Park he threw five interceptions in a 10-6 prime-time loss to the 49ers in 2009.

But that’s not why Frank Gore really wants the recently concussed Cutler to be available Monday night when Chicago returns to San Francisco. Instead, the 49ers running back wants both teams at full strength for what could be a preview to a January playoff game.

The Bears (7-2) have the NFC’s second-best record and the 49ers (6-2-1) own the third-best mark.

“We want their best, like they want our best,” Gore said. “I know they will want Alex Smith to play. We want Cutler to play. We want their best … If we keep winning and they keep winning, you never how it can go in the playoffs. So why not see what they’ve got now like they’re going to see what we have now? Then we imagine how it would go in the playoffs.”

The Bears did not practice Wednesday, so it’s not clear how Cutler has progressed since he sustained a concussion in the second quarter of a 13-6 loss to the Texans on Sunday night. Cutler has had at least four concussions dating back to his college career at Vanderbilt. Smith has been cleared by an independent neurologist and took part in San Francisco’s practice Wednesday in a black non-contact jersey.

“Jay is getting better,” Chicago coach Lovie Smith told the Chicago Tribune. “I am not going to go into exactly each step he has taken and things like that, and I think you can understand why. We will be on the practice field (Thursday). We can give you a little bit better idea of where he is then.”

Unlike the last meeting between the teams, a top NFC playoff seed could be at stake Monday. In San Francisco’s 10-6 win in on Nov. 12, 2009, the teams entered the Thursday night game with a combined record of 7-9.

Gore ran for 104 yards and had the game’s only touchdown, but he doesn’t have fond memories of the meeting between also-rans.

“It was a sucky game, you know?” Gore said. “Like 10-6 or something like that. Both teams were down, now both teams have a great team. I respect their team and I’m sure they respect us, too. It should be a great game Monday.”

** Wondering how Gore feels about last week’s 24-24 tie against the Rams?

Well, he’s really not expletive happy.

Asked about playing on Monday night’s national stage, Gore said: “That’s a big game. They’re coming off a big loss against a good team, Houston, and we —-ing tied.”